Blog

  1. Roof, Wall and Water Damage and Rodents

    We've all unfortunately experienced "Icepocalypse 2021" but what about its sequel ... Ratpocalypse? Eeek, hopefully not! However, with the amount of water damage, attic damage, holes and other terrible consequences coming out of the snow and ice events recently, Austin residents should be alert to rodent issues. Namely, new holes or entries which—if not patched up quickly—can result in mice, r…Read More

  2. Insects in Austin, TX

    Hundreds of people are moving to Austin to join our large population ... of bugs. People often research neighborhoods, schools and cultural attractions but a city's insect levels and activity may not be included in that pre-move investigation. We published a detailed Austin insect list previously, but here is a quick primer of pests our customers often encounter in their Austin homes: American Roa…Read More

  3. Ants In The Home

    There are dozens of ant varieties around Austin and Central Texas. Usually ants and humans co-exist relatively peacefully, but when these tiny crawlers show up indoors, all bets are off. Ants can quickly go from a few "here and there" to "where are these &*@#'s coming from and why are there so many of them??!" As anyone who has left out a greasy morsel or a sugary crumb can tell you, ants can …Read More

  4. Ants with Wings

    When temperatures warm up during spring and summer around Austin, the chances of seeing winged "swarmer" ants becomes more likely. Swarmers are ants that leave an established colony to breed. When they swarm can vary, but according to the "Insects in the City" blog they get a sense of when to leave a colony and swarm based on multiple factors — including weather and wind conditions, day length a…Read More

  5. How To Get Rid of Pests In Your Apartment or Duplex

    Apartments, duplexes and other multifamily residences offer unique challenges in getting thorough pest control. The obvious first issue is that treating just one of the properties facing a pest problem won't necessarily fully handle it. For example, German roaches are a tougher type of roach to exterminate because they can move between units or throughout a duplex easily. So an apartment resident …Read More

  6. 6 Pest Prevention Tips For Your Home

    There are pest control solutions that are 100% safe 100% of the time because they are preventive measures. Ooooh, fun. Prevention! Ok, so prevention is rarely a popular or exciting topic in most industries. A video of someone safely driving an 18-wheeler will probably get less views and attention than a pulse-pounding scene of a truck driver desperately trying to keep a big rig under control as it…Read More

  7. More About Fleas

    Fleas create a lot of concern with customers. The idea of a flea infestation is definitely disturbing, but more information about fleas can help calm concerns and help you know what you're up against. Why Do Fleas Bite Me? Fleas require blood to survive. Fleas become an issue to homeowners most commonly when a dog or a cat gets them and, untreated, they start to really reproduce. Occasionally flea…Read More

  8. Asian Lady Beetles

    Asian Lady Beetles are a relatively new pest in the United States, and though they can be easily mistaken for ladybugs, they are not the same and have distinct and unwanted characteristics that are worth knowing. Ladybug vs. Asian Lady Beetle Ladybugs are harmless and beneficial insects often found around gardens. In fact they are helpful in that they consume other garden pests like aphids. They d…Read More

  9. Mexican Honey Wasps

    If you are seeing a large "beehive" looking structure in your trees, it's probably not honeybees. It's quite possible you're seeing Mexican Honey Wasps. Mexican Honey Wasps can create nests in impressive sizes — larger than a basketball in diameter — up to 20 inches across! These nests in turn can house thousands and thousands of wasps. But before you burn down your trees and move to Greenland…Read More

  10. Do You Have Squirrels, Rats or Mice?

    Usually the first sign people recognize of potential rodent issues in their home is "creatures" stirring, typically above their heads in an attic or wall space. Many times this is a rat or mouse, but it could also be a squirrel that's found it's way into your attic. Or, it may not even be in the attic. It could be running across the roof and making a ruckus. Whatever the case, our experienced rode…Read More